By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Steve and Jane Skinner Early North End In the Middle Ages, a village existed at the end of Kingston Crescent. It was called King’s tun, which meant king’s estate. In the 17th century houses were built north of the village. The new area was called ‘the north end of Kingston’.… Continue reading A History of North End
Category: Articles
The Origins of some Portsmouth Street Names
By Tim Lambert Like many towns, Old Portsmouth has a High Street. It was the most important street. St Thomas’s Street gets its name because Portsmouth Cathedral was, at first a parish church dedicated to St Thomas. Penny Street is probably a corruption of a Latin word that meant supplies because merchants stored supplies there.… Continue reading The Origins of some Portsmouth Street Names
King Alfred and the Danes
By Tim Lambert Alfred the Great was born in Wantage, Oxfordshire in 849. He was the youngest son of King Aethelwulf of Wessex. (In those days England was divided into four kingdoms, Northumbria in the north, East Anglia and Mercia in the Midlands, and Wessex in the south). In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith. King Alfred… Continue reading King Alfred and the Danes
A History of Rotherham
By Tim Lambert Early Rotherham In the 1st century AD, the Romans built a fort by the river Rother. In time civilians moved nearby and a little town grew up. (The soldiers provided a market for the townspeople’s goods). However, in 407 AD, the Roman army left Britain. Afterward, Roman civilization broke down and Roman… Continue reading A History of Rotherham
A Brief History of Uranus and Neptune
By Tim Lambert The Planet Uranus In 1781 William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. Since ancient times only 6 planets had been known, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The discovery of a previously unknown planet was a landmark and it made William Herschel famous. Herschel wanted to name the new planet Georgium Sidus… Continue reading A Brief History of Uranus and Neptune
A History of Castles
By Tim Lambert Many castles were built in Europe in the Middle Ages. Of course, the idea of a fort goes back to prehistoric times. However, a castle was also a residence for a king, a noble, or a bishop. However each noble usually owned more than one castle and spent some time travelling between… Continue reading A History of Castles
A Short History of England
By Tim Lambert Prehistoric and Ancient England About 4,500 BC farming was introduced into what is now England. Using stone axes the farmers began clearing the forests that covered England. They grew crops of wheat and barley and they raised herds of cattle, pigs, and sheep. However as well as farming, they also hunted animals… Continue reading A Short History of England
A History of Brighton
By Tim Lambert Early Brighton Brighton began as a small Saxon village. The Saxons landed in Sussex in the 5th century AD and they founded the kingdom of Sussex including the village of Brighton. It was once called Beorthelm’s tun (Beorthelm’s farm or village). Centuries later it grew into the city of Brighton. Fishermen lived… Continue reading A History of Brighton
A Biography of William Herschel
By Tim Lambert His Early Life William Herschel was one of the great astronomers of the 18th century. He was born Friedrich Wilhelm in Hanover, Germany on 15 November 1738. He was one of 10 children, of whom 6 survived. His father was a musician and Herschel followed in his footsteps. When he was 14… Continue reading A Biography of William Herschel
A Brief History of Yorkshire
By Tim Lambert Prehistoric Yorkshire In 7,000 BC Yorkshire would look quite different from what it does today. In those days it was covered in thick forest. At that time the first humans arrived. They were stone age hunters and gatherers. They hunted the abundant wildlife in Yorkshire such as deer and boar. Then in… Continue reading A Brief History of Yorkshire